31 December 2015

While watching the Clemson game Alyson started cheering, "Go Daniel Tiger! Go Daniel Tiger!"

30 December 2015

Nana gave the girls a shoebox full of costume jewelry to play with. After Alyson put on every last piece, Alyson declared, "I'm all prepped for my party!"

29 December 2015

On the way to Nana and Poppop's we passed a small airport with two planes parked near the road. Alyson was confused.

Alyson: Why aren't they flying?
Me/Tony: The planes' owners probably don't need to go anywhere right now.
Alyson: Probably it's not windy enough.

28 December 2015

When Alyson was finishing up her lunch:

Me: Are you eating anymore?
Alyson: Nope, not today!
Me: So, you're not eating dinner?
Alyson: Just breakfast and lunch.

(At dinner she said that she didn't like pineapple today. She has this toddler thing down.)

27 December 2015

While the girls were playing:

Alyson: Oopsie Aly!
Madelyn: It's "Oopsie Daisy".
Alyson: But my name is Aly, not Daisy.

Bonus:

The girls both have clocks that change from a girl sleeping to a girl riding a scooter when they are allowed to get up. The only problem is that you can't set AM or PM, so if the girls go to bed more than twelve hours before we want them getting up, the clock will change soon after they go to bed.

The girls were in bed a little early tonight because they were being unruly, so they were in bed actually before 7pm. Their clocks were set for 8pm, and we fully knew we would have to reset their clocks before we went to bed. Alyson had been up to go potty, a little after she went to bed, and Tony had reset her stars that project on her ceiling, which stay on for 45 minutes.

A little later, Tony heard Alyson get out of bed over the monitor and looked at the clock to see that it was 8PM. On his way upstairs to get her, he heard her go into Madelyn's room and say, "Madelyn, my clock says morning! And, your clock says morning! Madelyn?"

Madelyn was completely asleep and never heard her.

Tony got Alyson:

Tony: You need to go back to bed.
Alyson: But my clock says morning.
Tony: You haven't been to sleep yet. It's dark and your stars are still on. 


The crazy toddler got back in bed and hasn't been up since (thank goodness).

26 December 2015

While at dinner:

Alyson: Mom, Mom, Mom, you are my only mom. I love you and only you.
Tony looked at her and made a pouty, sad face.
Alyson, looking at Tony: I love all of you!

25 December 2015

After Alyson opened up her giant yellow rubber ducky from Santa:

Tony: Are you going to have it in the bath with you?
Alyson pondered that like she had never even considered that it could go in the bath.
Tony: Do you think it will fit in the tub with you?
Alyson: Um.... YEAH!

24 December 2015

I tossed Alyson's Hershey Kiss from her Advent calendar to Tony for her dessert after lunch. My throw was a little low, but he caught it.

Me: Oops, sorry, that was a little low.
Alyson: That was a very below the throw.

23 December 2015

Multiple times today, Alyson had a conversation like this:

Person talking to her: What's tomorrow?
Alyson, excitedly: Halloween!
Person: No not Halloween.
Alyson, with a sly look in her eye because she was teasing: Christmas Eve!

22 December 2015

First

This morning, I picked Alyson up for some cuddles after drinking some coffee.

Alyson: What is that smell?
Me: Sorry. I just had some coffee so it's probably coffee breath.
Alyson: What's coffee breath?
Me: Drinking coffee can give you bad, stinky breath.
Alyson: You better wash your breath off.

Second

The girls were in the other room playing with their new art sets they got from the Sesins for Christmas. I guess Madelyn was using the scissors to cut some paper for them because we heard Alyson say, "When I grow up, I want to use my scissors."

21 December 2015

This afternoon after Alyson got up from her nap, Tony​ and I realized that we would potentially be stuck inside with an almost-3-year-old for a few days since it was supposed to rain. We decided to take a walk down to the park before going to get Madelyn at the bus stop. Alyson was ahead of us as we walked to the park and suddenly turned around and asked in a worried, slightly panicked voice, "What's after seben?!"

Also, while at the park, Tony ended up being a bank teller at some point, and Alyson needed two moneys but she only had one money in her account and needed a loan. I wish I had gotten all of that on video.

20 December 2015

Alyson was being her silly little self:

Tony: You're a silly little pickle.
Alyson: You're a silly tomato!

19 December 2015

Alyson was having a day when it was hard being almost three. The girls were cleaning up toys, and Madelyn starting picking up Alyson's. Alyson started pouting:

Alyson: I'm not happy with you, Madelyn.
Tony: Why aren't you happy?
Alyson: I'm not happy with Madelyn because she's putting away my toys and I wanted to do it!

18 December 2015

First

Before we came home today:

Alyson: What are we having for dinner?
Me: I don't know. What do you want for dinner?
Alyson, completely seriously: Cupcakes.
Me: You want cupcakes for dinner?
Alyson: I like cupcakes.

Second

As we were saying goodnight:

Alyson, dead serious: I need to tell you something.
Me: What?
Alyson: I'm thirsty.

17 December 2015

When Alyson first saw Santa on the firetruck tonight, she declared, "Santa is on that firetruck! He should be on his sled!"

16 December 2015

While riding home this afternoon, I had put Alyson's jacket over her like a blanket while in the car seat. This wasn't the first time I had done this. Alyson declared, "My jacket isn't a blankie! It doesn't say 'blankie' on it!"

15 December 2015

While Alyson was eating a snowman made of marshmallows:

Alyson, pointing to the top where the Oreo hat had been attached: I don't like this. What is it?
Tony: Chocolate.
Alyson: Ohhh.....

14 December 2015

This afternoon while Alyson was playing on the hardwood floor:

Alyson: I don't want this kind of floor anymore!
Me: Why not?
Alyson: I don't like it.
Me: What don't you like about it?
Alyson, pointing at the grain in the wood: All of these black things!

13 December 2015

During dinner, Alyson kept trying to bite the stem of a piece of steamed broccoli. When she couldn't bite through it, she said, "That part is really hard to bite, so I want to do it!"

12 December 2015

During breakfast:

Alyson: My oatmeal was way too yummy!
Me, teasing of course: What should we do next time to not make it so yummy?
Alyson, thinking really hard: Ummmm.... I don't know!

11 December 2015

I wrapped Christmas presents this afternoon and put them under the tree. I pointed them out to Alyson after the girls were home.

Me: You can't touch any of the presents under the tree.
Alyson: Why not?
Me: We don't want to mess them up and none of them are for you right now anyway.
Alyson, pouting: Aaawwwwww.....

10 December 2015

We're still eating some of Madelyn's leftover birthday cake from her party Saturday. Today, while Alyson was eating her cake she said, "Why is it called Lego cake? I think it's called yummy Lego cake. BEST! Lego! Cake! Ebber!!"

09 December 2015

When I was getting Alyson ready for bed, she tried giving me her KidFit to sync to the app on my phone. 

Me: You have to give this to Daddy to sync on his phone. My app syncs to Madelyn's KidFit.
Alyson, whiny and tired: But I love you....

08 December 2015

When I was picking Alyson up after work:

Me: What's tomorrow?
Alyson: Grandma's birthday?
Me: No, that was yesterday. What's tomorrow?
Alyson: Ummmm....
Me: Who's birthday is it tomorrow?
Mom, stage whispering: My sister's...
Alyson: No! My sister! She's only my sister!

07 December 2015

A couple of days ago, Alyson got a toy taken away from her because she threw it while cleaning up. Tony gave it back to her today.

Alyson, after Tony gave her the toy: I wanted that!
Tony: Now, what are you not supposed to do with toys?
Alyson: Throw them.
Tony: Go put it away.
Alyson, taking the toy back to the playroom: Next time we're cleaning up, I won't throw it.

06 December 2015

When we left for church this morning, Alyson asked if it had snowed. I told her that it was frost on the ground. When we got into the car, I had to scrape the frost off of it.

Alyson: Why is the car frozen?
Me: Moisture condensed on the car and turned to ice.
Alyson: And turned to Frosty the Snowman car!

05 December 2015

When Tony got Alyson up from her nap:

Tony: Guess what.
Alyson: It Madelyn birthday?
Tony: No.
Alyson: Then what day is it?
Tony: Saturday. We're going to go have Madelyn's party. It's time to get ready to go.
Alyson: Yay!

04 December 2015

I gave Alyson a few baby spinach leaves with dinner. As she picked one up to eat it:

Me: You want some dip for that?
Alyson: No! I don't like dip! ... What's dip?

(For the record, this girl loves condiments.)

03 December 2015

Ever since Halloween, Alyson has been asking every day when it will be Halloween again. Today, she was asking again as we left Grandma and Grandpa's. She went on to say, "Grandma and Grandpa and GG like to go Halloweening." I'm pretty sure "Halloweening" is trick-or-treating.

02 December 2015

On the way home this afternoon, Alyson saw a mail truck and said, "Aw, that's cute! It's a little truck!"

01 December 2015

While getting ready for bed, Alyson had to go potty as soon as she got all of her clothes off. She ran naked into the bathroom. As soon as she was done, she bent down and tried reaching for something around her ankles. Once she realized what she was doing, she laughed and said, "I almost pulled my pants up! Silly me!"

30 November 2015

Tony put batteries in the Fisher Price nativity set. Madelyn made it play the song it plays. Alyson got really excited, and cheered, "Oh! There it goes!"

29 November 2015

While the girls were decorating their own special little tree, Alyson declared, "This tree is gonna be all so decolated."

28 November 2015

Alyson had mixed her corn into her sweet potato casserole during dinner. That got us all talking about weird food combinations.

Madelyn: You know what's a bad combination?
Alyson, raising her hand: ME!!!

27 November 2015

Toddlers say the strangest things. As I was saying good night to Alyson:

Alyson: You're a silly little pickle!
Me: Oh really?
Alyson: And I'm a silly little pickle! And Madelyn is a silly little pickle! And Daddy is a silly little pickle!

26 November 2015

First

This morning, Tony lifted Alyson up and had "Super Alyson" flying around. When he put her down, she exclaimed, "That was funtastic!"

Second

While eating her pumpkin pie for dessert, Alyson told me, "You make the best pumpkin pie I never did seen."

25 November 2015

Alyson, pretending: I think there's monsters in there!
Me: Where?
Alyson: In the bathroom!
Tony: There are no monsters in there.
Alyson, growling and pretending to me a monster: Monster! Monster!

24 November 2015

On the way home this afternoon, Alyson was "spelling" in the car.

Alyson: T-O-K-T-O.
Me: Tokto?
Alyson: No! I spelled Grandpa!

23 November 2015

Tony had to snake out the drain pipe under the house this afternoon after we were all home. When he does that, you can hear the snake in the pipes while in the house. After Tony came back inside, Alyson asked him, "Daddy, why were you rubbing the pipes?"

22 November 2015

While I was saying good night to Alyson:

Alyson: What day is it?
Me: Sunday.
Alyson: What day is tomorrow?
Me: Monday.
Alyson: Why?

21 November 2015

On the way home today, we were stopped at a traffic light, but I needed to get over to the other lane. I signaled and was starting to put down my window to make sure the car behind me in the other lane saw and was going to let me over.

Alyson: I want my window down, too!
Me, putting my window up because the car saw and it wasn't necessary: I'm not really putting the windows down. The car next to me is being nice and letting me over.
Alyson: You have to be nice. If you're not nice, open the window and say, "Go away car!"

20 November 2015

Before bed, we were talking about visiting Santa tomorrow.

Me: Do you know what you're going to ask Santa to bring you for Christmas?
Alyson: A really, really, really big ducky! The biggest ducky I have ever seen!

19 November 2015

Yesterday, Alyson was at my work for about 10 minutes or so before I took her out for lunch. Apparently, she loved our outing.

Alyson: I want to go to your work again!
Me, teasing: No, you want to go out for lunch again.
Alyson, sounding like she got caught: Yeah....

18 November 2015

Alyson wanted to bring a small monkey that is part of a game home from Grandma and Grandpa's today. I was trying to convince her to leave in there.

Me, in a silly voice pretending to be the monkey talking to Alyson: If you take me home, I'm going to miss all of my friend who stay here!
Alyson: Well, then, can I take home two?

She's too smart for her own good.

17 November 2015

Tony showed Alyson a video of deer chasing Rudolph. When Alyson saw the deer running around, she exclaimed, "Those deer are dancing!"

16 November 2015

First

Definitely Grandpa's girl.

Alyson, suddenly while playing: I have to go potty! Where's Grandpa?
Mom: He's at the store.
Alyson: But I have to go potty!
Mom: I can help you go potty, too....

Second

While on the way home, Alyson kept telling me something that I was having a hard time understanding between her toddler-speak and the shear absurdity of what she was saying.

Me: What did you say?
Alyson: I want to get a shot again!
Me: You want to get a shot again? Like, at the doctor's?
Alyson: Yeah!

15 November 2015

First

As we were pulling up to Starbucks:

Alyson: I want a drink!
Me: We didn't bring your cup.
Alyson: They have cups!

Second

While at Target looking for a birthday present for Madelyn, Alyson was looking at a LEGO set and decided, "This is really big! Let's buy it!"

14 November 2015

First

While the girls were "cleaning" the playroom, we heard Alyson yell at Madelyn, "OW! That hurt, Madelyn! I'm gonna tell Mommy that that hurt!"

Second

Madelyn was reading the Baby Bible to Alyson.

Madelyn: God made everything!
Alyson, pointing to the picture in the book: No, that's an apple tree!

13 November 2015

Alyson was getting her pajamas on in her room while Tony and I were in ours. She walked into our room with her pajama pants on and "hiding" her nightgown behind her back. She looked up at me with a mischievous smile on her face and innocently said, "I have something for you, Mommy, to put on me....."

12 November 2015

Alyson is going through the "everyone is my best friend" stage. Before we left Mom and Dad's today, Alyson and Mom were teasing each other. 

Mom: Why should I do it?
Alyson: Because you're my best grandma!

11 November 2015

Madelyn, pretending to shoot ice at Alyson a la Elsa: I'm going to freeze you with my frozen power!
Alyson, shooting fire back at her: I'm going to freeze you because I have fire!

No, not exactly.

10 November 2015

The girls collected all of the trash from the trashcans in the bedrooms and bathrooms after dinner since tomorrow is trash day. When they were done, Madelyn went to the chore chart to put checks for them doing their job. Alyson was mad at Madelyn for putting her check mark on the chart and yelled, "You didn't let me do check marks! I'm not going to play with you anymore!"

09 November 2015

When Alyson and I were leaving Mom's, it was raining.

Me to Alyson: Come on and hurry up so that we don't get too wet.
Alyson: It's only just rain drops!

08 November 2015

We were talking about Hogwarts houses in the car:

Madelyn: I'm gonna be in Gryffindor!
Alyson: And I'm gonna be in kindergarten!

07 November 2015

While getting in the car, Madelyn got in trouble and her stuffed dog got temporarily taken away from her. She started crying. After she finished crying:

Alyson to Madelyn: When you're crying, I don't love you. When you're not crying, I do love you.
Madelyn: That's not very nice!
Alyson: I know!

06 November 2015

Madelyn brought home a balloon from the Fun Run today. Alyson was a little jealous. She announced to us, "When I go to school, I'm going to get a balloon!"

05 November 2015

Instead of going straight up to the bus stop today, Alyson and I walked around the block to get there. We passed a house that is being remodeled.

Alyson: What are they doing?
Me: Remodeling the house. They're making it better.
Alyson: Maybe at night while they were sleeping a doggie knocked the house over.

Um.... okay crazy toddler.

04 November 2015

I was standing in the kitchen before Alyson and I left to go get Madelyn from the bus stop. Alyson walked up to me and started trying to push and pull me and do everything she could to get me to move. She gave up and declared, "You're way too heavy for me!"

03 November 2015

Alyson was playing with the magnets on the trashcan, and put one where Madelyn didn't like. Madelyn told her so. Alyson wasn't taking it from her big sister, "Madelyn, I want it to be up there, so leave me alone."

02 November 2015

When we got home today, Alyson wanted a snack.

Alyson: I want a moozie! 
Me: Okay, let me get you a smoothie.
Alyson, standing at the open fridge looking in the compartment on the door: I want this!
Me, looking at the chia strawberry banana pureed fruit pouch she pulled out: Okay.
Alyson, after she started eating it: Ew! This has seeds! It not supposed to have seeds!

01 November 2015

First

While Alyson was being extremely slow about getting dressed this morning.

Me: Get your pants.
Alyson: They aren't pants. They're leggings.
Me: They're a type of pants.
Alyson: No, they're a type of leggings.

Second

As soon as we sat down at church this morning, Alyson emphatically declared, "Me want to sing songs!"

31 October 2015

First

While arguing, I mean reading books this morning:

Alyson to Madelyn: Hey! Stop it!
Madelyn: I was reading it for you!
Alyson: I can read it myself!
Madelyn: You don't even know how to read yet!

Second

As we were leaving a house while trick-or-treating:

Me, as Alyson turned away after getting candy: What do you say?
Alyson: Trick-or.... I mean thank you! I almost said, "trick-or-treat!"

30 October 2015

First

I was trying to get Alyson to leave Mom and Dad's a little faster this afternoon, so I reminded her about her new closet that was installed today to get her to want to leave.

Me: What happened in your room today?
Alyson: I don't know.
Me: Did something happen to your closet?
Alyson, jumping around in circles and excitedly moving her arms up and down: I GOT A NEW CLOSET! I GOT A NEW CLOSET! I GOT A NEW CLOSET!

She was ready to leave then.

Second

Alyson was playing with some Styrofoam packing peanuts in a box.

Me: Alyson, stop messing with those. I don't want a big mess.
Alyson: Why?
Me: Because I don't want to have to clean up your mess.
Alyson: But me want to play with them.
Me: Are you going to clean up the mess when you're done?
Alyson: No.
Me: So, you're not playing with them.

Oh, the honesty of toddlers, and a perfect example of her mood lately. She went off and did something else.

29 October 2015

Alyson was cranky and fussy all day today. Among other things, she threw a fit while walking to the bus stop to get Madelyn all because she had fallen and I didn't want her running in her boots anymore. I had to carry her to the bus stop because she was crying so hard. Before bed:

Me: Why were you such a fuss today?
Alyson: Because I wanted to beat you to the bus stop!

28 October 2015

Alyson loved her new shirt today because, "I'm a super hero like they!"

27 October 2015

I was in the kitchen fixing dinner. Madelyn was in the living room coloring, and Alyson was in the living room cleaning up some toys she had been playing with. Alyson asked Madelyn for help with something.

Madelyn: See if Mommy will help you.
Alyson: But Mommy is busy fixing dinner.

(She did end up coming in and asking me for help, and I helped her close up the Mr. Potato Head container.)

26 October 2015

During our walk today after dinner, Madelyn and Tony were running ahead while Alyson and I were "running." We turned a corner and saw Madelyn and Tony halfway down the block ahead of us. Alyson lamented, "I want to catch up to them, but they're too fast!"

25 October 2015

We got to their race early today, so the girls were running around and pretending to run races. Alyson is so used to her apple after her race that she did this when she finished once. (I had to get her to do it again to record it.)

24 October 2015

Alyson and I were talking about Madelyn and her spending the night at Grandma and Grandpa's tonight.

Alyson about tomorrow: It not a work day for you guys?
Me: Nope, it isn't a work day for us.
Alyson: When do I get to go to work?
Me: When you're older.
Alyson: I want to be older sometime.

23 October 2015

While in the car stopped at a red light:

Alyson: Go!
Me: What color is the light?
Alyson: Red.
Me: So that means I can't go.
Alyson: I know. [The light changed green.] Green! Go!

22 October 2015

When I got to Mom's, Alyson ran off to hide. No one went to find her, so she couldn't stand being ignored anymore. Plus, we all knew where she went.

Alyson, from under the dining room table: This is a really good hiding place!
Me, from in the living room: If it's such a good hiding place, I'll never be able to find you.
Alyson: Under the table, silly guys!

21 October 2015

Alyson was playing with her Lego set from pley.com and was putting the helmets on the medieval soldiers. She announced, "They are going to the gas station so they need their helmets on."

20 October 2015

Tony and I were in the kitchen talking about possibly running and biking together with the girls. The girls were in the living room playing.

Tony: If we want to go somewhere...
Alyson, butting in: Me wanna go to Silver Diner!!!!

19 October 2015

First

While I was fixing dinner, Alyson took a magnet from the side of our trashcan, which is magnetic. She walked up to a drawer and held the magnet up to the drawer pull, "Not there." She turned to the stainless steal dishwasher and held the magnet up to it, "Not there." She walked to the stainless steal refrigerator and held the magnet up to it, "Not there." She walked to the side of the refrigerator on Madelyn's urging, and held the magnet up to it and the magnet stuck, "Right there!"

Second

Madelyn was doing her homework with a pencil. She flipped her pencil over and erased something on her paper. Alyson noticed and told her, "You're using it backwards!"

18 October 2015

When we came upstairs tonight for baths and to get ready for bed, Alyson ran upstairs first. When Tony got to her room, she was just sitting there not taking her clothes off or anything.

Tony: You know how to start getting your clothes off.
Alyson: To get NAKED!

17 October 2015

We went out for dinner tonight. As we were walking through the parking garage, Tony was carrying Alyson.

Alyson: Why are you carrying me?
Tony: But I want Aly cuddles.
Alyson: Me don't want Daddy cuddles. Me want Daddy kisses.

16 October 2015

While the girls were cleaning the playroom, I was directing Alyson to get the baby doll stuff and put it away.

Me: Get that baby.
Alyson got the doll and put it with the doll stuff.
Me: Get that diaper.
Alyson got the diaper and pointed to the naked doll she just put with the doll stuff: That diaper goes on that baby butt!

15 October 2015

While washing her hands:

Alyson: What kind of soap is that?
Me: Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin
Alyson: Mmmmm.... Me want that for dinner.

14 October 2015

Madelyn was noisily chewing her food during dinner.

Me: Stop. You are not a cow.
Alyson: You are Madelyn, my big sister!

13 October 2015

Alyson was helping Madelyn bring the trashcans downstairs to be emptied. 

Madelyn, yelling from upstairs as Alyson was coming downstairs: Someone watch Aly on the stairs!
Alyson, when she got to the bottom of the stairs: Done! See I don't need help!

12 October 2015

When Tony and Alyson were walking to the car after leaving the grocery store:

Alyson, pointing to a van that was obviously not Tony's car: Is that Daddy's car?
Tony: No.... There's Daddy's car! Yay!
Alyson: No Daddy say, "Yay!" Me no want to hear it.

(Well, okay then.)

11 October 2015

We had slow cooker lasagna for dinner tonight. On the table was some extra parmesan and mozzarella cheeses for everyone to add if they wanted it. Alyson couldn't quite pronounce "mozzarella" and got slightly mad at us for teasing her about it: "It's not monster! It's monster-ella!"

10 October 2015

Tony and Alyson were at Home Depot. When they left, Tony playfully jogged through the parking lot with Alyson in the cart. The route to the car took them in an arc. When they got to the car, Alyson playfully moved her head from side to side and said, "Whoa..... Me dizzy....."

09 October 2015

I got to Mom's after work a few minutes earlier than usual today. When I walked in the door, Alyson came running down the hall to the living room. She stopped with a surprised look on her face when she saw me and yelled, "Oh! You're not the mail!" Then, she turned around and ran back down the hall.

08 October 2015

While eating dinner tonight, Alyson sneezed and then said, "That was a wet burp!"

07 October 2015

When she was getting out of my SUV when we got home today, Alyson grabbed onto the "oh shit" handle as she slid out of her carseat. As she hung from it before dropping down to the floor of the SUV, she said, "Oooh! Oooh! I'm a monkey!"

06 October 2015

Alyson was playing with a ball and rolling it on the floor. It rolled away from her, and she laid stretched out on the floor reaching for it begging, "Come back to me! Come back to me!"

05 October 2015

I had my laptop open to my busy and colorful Google Calendar. Alyson sat down next to it on the couch and started pointing a the blocks of color saying, "Let me see. Me want that one and that one and that one looks good." I guess she was shopping in my calendar?

04 October 2015

First

After Alyson finished her breakfast this morning, she flattened her napkin out on the table and pretended her finger was a person.

"My finger playing soccer on the soccer team on the soccer floor (the napkin). My finger scored a goal! My finger won!

Second

As I was leaving her room for bedtime, Alyson informed me, "I speaking Spanish. This is how you speak Spanish. Uno. Dos. Tres."

03 October 2015

As I pulled up to the house today when we got home from piano, Alyson yelled from the back seat, "Stop! We are at our house!"

02 October 2015

Alyson's favorite phrase today was "on purpose.' She asked if things were done "on purpose" or said she was going to do something "on purpose" over and over. For example, while eating lunch:

Alyson: Tomorrow, I'm going to bite my finger at lunch.
Me: You're going to bite your finger?
Alyson: Yes. On purpose.

01 October 2015

For dessert tonight, Alyson was having some chocolate cherry granola because that's what her sister wanted.

Alyson after I handed her her bowl: I want raisins!
Me: There aren't any raisins in this granola. I think there are cherries in your bowl. I'll give you more.
Alyson a minute later: Can I have more raisins?

30 September 2015

Today during dinner, Alyson told her daddy all about her big sister being mean to her when she got home, "I wanted to play with Madelyn's Frozen LEGOs, but she said 'no' and took them away, so I really, really super cried." And then she started fake sobbing to demonstrate the crying.

29 September 2015

When we were leaving Mom's this afternoon, Mom bent down and kissed Alyson on the head. Alyson responded by yelling, "Ew! Grandma slobber!"

28 September 2015

While Alyson was eating a chocolate chip cookie after dinner:

Alyson: My cookie tastes like a doggy bone.
Me: Aly, you know from experience?
Alyson: Uh huh.

She then went on pretending that she was a puppy eating a dog bone.

27 September 2015

Alyson was outside playing in the garden while Tony was working in the garden. She got tired of that and went up to Tony and said, "Daddy, I don't want to shovel anymore. Me wanna ride motorcycle." Turns out that she wanted to ride her tricycle.

26 September 2015

Since Madelyn had her school picture day yesterday, I decided take some photos of Alyson this morning. When we got started with our second session, Alyson insisted on staring off to the side and not looking at me.

Me: What are you doing silly?
Alyson, laughing: Being stubborn!

25 September 2015

During dinner, we were talking about our days. I was telling everyone about our company picnic for work today. Alyson pointed to Tony and I and declared, "When I'm big like you guys, I can go to work like you. When I'm five!"

24 September 2015

Every night when Alyson comes into Madelyn's room to say good night to her, she walks in pretending she's a monster and saying, "Aly-Monster! Aly-Monster! Aly-Monster!" Tonight, she got the stuffed ghost from her bed and brought it in pretending that was the monster. She held it in front of her and said, "Monster! Monster! Monster!"

23 September 2015

Honestly, the girls love their doctor's office. They were playing while waiting to get their flu shots when the nurse came to get them.

Nurse: Are you girls ready?
The girls just looked like we killed their kitten for making them stop playing.
Me: It's time for your flu shots.
Alyson: Me love flu shots!

22 September 2015

Every single time I asked Alyson to do something this afternoon, she responded, "Wait a second!" Sigh, now which one of us did she get that from?

21 September 2015

First

We had our lawn aerated today, which left some dirt on the sidewalk. Both when Tony and Alyson came back from taking Madelyn to the bus this morning and when Alyson and I got back from Mom's after work, Alyson looked at the sidewalk and asked, "Why is it messy?"

Second

When I got to Mom's to pick up Alyson after work, Dad was sitting on the couch. Alyson walked over at one point and sat on his foot. It looked like she was bending his ankle at an awkward angle.

Me: You're going to hurt Grandpa's foot.
Alyson: No, just hurt his shoe!

Third

While waiting at the bus stop for Madelyn, Alyson wanted to zip up her jacket. She tried, but couldn't get the zipper started, so she asked for help, "Me not know how to get it together. Me a toddler!"

20 September 2015

After running her Healthy Kids Running Series-Rockville, MD​ race this afternoon where I help at the finish line, Alyson told me, "I ran super really fast straight to you!"

19 September 2015

While we were at the park while Madelyn was at her soccer skills class, Alyson and I were walking around and playing on the playgrounds. We passed a woman who was walking backwards. After we passed her, Alyson turned around and started walking backwards as well. (The woman didn't seem to notice.)

18 September 2015

While playing with the wooden train/car set, Alyson kept driving the cars on the train tracks.

Madelyn: You can't drive the cars on the train tracks!
Alyson: Why not?

17 September 2015

On the way to dinner, Alyson was getting annoying by the sun in her eyes even with her sunglasses, and she yelled, "Stop bright! Stop getting in my eyes!"

16 September 2015

During dinner, Alyson was examining a piece of potato and asked, "What is this anyway?"

15 September 2015

Alyson sure likes to drive her sister crazy while playing. Their Disney princesses were giving each other dance lessons to prepare for their ball.

Madelyn: Does Rapunzel know how to dance now?
Alyson: No.
Madelyn: She can still learn how!
Alyson: Don't want to learn.
Madelyn: Does she want to have fun?
Alyson: No.

14 September 2015

After we got home today, I had the girls pick out band colors and badges for new Road ID bracelets. After picking their colors:

Me: Okay, we still need to measure your wrists to see what size. I could do it with a tape measure.
Madelyn: We don't have a tape measure.
Alyson ran back to the playroom and came back with a toy tape measure: Here's a tape measure!

13 September 2015

While at Wheaton Regional Park, the girls rode the carousel with their little buddy. When Alyson got onto a white horse with black spots, she announced, "Me ride the cow horse!"

12 September 2015

Toddlers say weird things. After drinking a long drink from her grape juice, Alyson announced, "When you drink too much, you get super frustrated."

11 September 2015

On the way home today, I had the windows down in the car.

Alyson: You please turn the air on?
Me: It's nice out. Don't you want it windy?
Alyson: No. Me no want my hair messy!

10 September 2015

When we got to the bus stop to wait for Madelyn, Alyson pulled on the tree branch as usual.

Me: Aly, don't do that. It hurts the tree.
Alyson, hugging the tree: Me hugging the tree. Me so sorry to the tree.

09 September 2015

When I was picking up Alyson:

Mom: Alyson, say "crayon."
Alyson: No.
Mom: Come on, say "crayon" for your mommy.
Alyson: Me say marker.

08 September 2015

After reading "Silly Tilly" by Eileen Spinelli for her bedtime story tonight, Alyson was looking at the last picture in the book where Tilly is standing on her head holding a "The End" sign with her feet, and declared, "Silly Tilly is super really silly!"

07 September 2015

While Madelyn was trying on some clothes at the Old Navy outlet, Tony was holding Alyson just outside of the dressing rooms were some mannequins were set up. Alyson reached over for the shirt on one of the mannequins saying, "Me like this shirt. Me take it off."

06 September 2015

First

In the car I was mentioning that I need to get gas before going home tomorrow. Alyson affirmed, "Gas makes the car go, and when the car stops, it not go."

Second

While getting ready for bed when I was holding Alyson and singing to her:
Madelyn: Can I get Mommy cuddles, too?
Alyson, just loud enough for Tony and I to hear but Madelyn couldn't: No, only me get Mommy cuddles.
Tony and I could help but laugh.
Madelyn: What did you say?
Alyson: Nothing. Me was talking to Mommy.

05 September 2015

Alyson and I went for a walk on the boardwalk and stopped at the Spice and Tea Exchange. I was looking at tea there and Alyson kept begging, "Me want tea, too!"

04 September 2015

In the car, Alyson was playing with a toy cell phone. Turns out that she was having problems with it: "After my phone charged it got wet and now doesn't work. My phone messy. It need a bath."

03 September 2015

At the bus stop while waiting for Madelyn this afternoon, Alyson was playing under a small tree. She kept jumping up trying to grab the branch. After a few unsuccessful tries, she said, "Can't reach but me getting bigger and bigger!"

02 September 2015

During dinner:

Alyson: Mommy?
Me: Yeah?
Alyson: Am I two or five?
Me: Two.
Alyson: Oh, okay.
Madelyn: What? Did you forget?
Alyson: Yeah.

01 September 2015

While trying to get Alyson to eat a bite of dinner tonight, Tony and I may not have resorted to the best tactics.

Tony: Mommy and Daddy would be really happy if you ate just one bite. Do you want to make us happy?
Alyson: NO!

31 August 2015

While waiting for the bus this morning:

Madelyn: What color will my bus be?
Me: Yellow.
Alyson: Yay! Me love yellow!

30 August 2015

While we were waiting to line of for the kids fun run today, Alyson kept inching forward.

Me: Alyson, step back out of the way.
Alyson: I NEED to run!

29 August 2015

This afternoon, we went to a pool party for Madelyn's school. We were only going to be gone for a couple of hours, but as we drove away from the house, Alyson announced, "Me gonna miss home."

28 August 2015

The girls today were pretending that their G.G.'s cane was a microphone. Alyson was standing at it while Madelyn was "swimming" across the floor.

Alyson: Swimming race is over!
Mom: Aly, why don't you sing something?
Alyson started humming.
Mom: That's humming, not singing.
Alyson kept humming.

27 August 2015

With dinner, we had extremely healthy veggie straws with our even healthier hot dogs and baked beans.

Alyson, after eating her veggie straws first: Me want more straws!
Me: You need to eat the rest of the food on your plate before you get more veggie straws.
Alyson, after eating everything else: Me done! Me want LOTS more straws! 

26 August 2015

As we were going up for bed, we were telling the girls that their bath tonight was going to be quick.

Me: Aly, you need to go to bed. You've been whiny all day.
Alyson: Me a toddler. And whiny, suuuuuper whiny.

25 August 2015

During dinner tonight, I was asking the girls what they wanted to do for lunch tomorrow since they'll be with me.

Me: Do you want leftover Chinese that we can eat at my work or do you want to go out for lunch?
Madelyn: Go out!
Me: Okay, what do you want?
Alyson: Me want mac a moni and cheese!

24 August 2015

After dinner tonight, Madelyn and I were looking at the school lunch menu for September to decide when she was buying lunch each week. We were highlighting the meals she wanted to buy.
Alyson, jealous that she wasn't involved: Me want to do it, too!
Me: Sorry, Aly, this is for Madelyn for school.
Alyson, getting really mad and trying to grab the highlighter: But me want to do it, too!
Tony, after Alyson started crying: Aly, can you come here? I need your help.
Alyson walked over and Tony picked her up.Tony, pointing to the dirty dishes in the sink: I need you to tell me when I have everything clean. Okay?

The distraction worked for a few minutes, and then Alyson was back to wanting to color the lunch menu, too. So, Tony grabbed a produce availability list for a local orchard that was handy and put Alyson in her seat at the table. I gave her the highlighter, and the "picked" the produce she wanted.

23 August 2015

While driving past a Kmart:
Madelyn: There's Kmart.
Alyson: No, it isn't.
Madelyn: The sign says "Kmart".
Alyson: No, it says "ABCs".

Then, they argued for a few minutes about what the sign said.

22 August 2015

When we got ice cream on the boardwalk, Alyson was exhausted so I tried helping her.
Me: Aly, do you want help?
Alyson: No. Me no need help!
Me: Okay, fine.

A little while later, Alyson was still "struggling" with her ice cream.
Me, taking the spoon: Here, let me help you.
Alyson: I SAID "NO!"

21 August 2015

While Tony was putting lotion on Alyson before bed tonight he had her upside down over his lap. Alyson yelled, "Me no see evything! Me backward!"

20 August 2015

Just as the girls were going to bed, a thunderstorm could be heard in the distance. About fifteen minutes after they were in bed, a roll of thunder was so close that it shook the house. Alyson cried, and Tony went up to her.

Tony: You know what you should do?
Alyson: What?
Tony: If it thunders again, turn to the window and tell it [putting his finger up to his mouth] "shhh!!!"
Alyson: Okay.

Alyson laid back down, and Tony left the room. It thundered again, and Alyson turned toward her window and went "Ssshhhhh!!!". She rolled back over and went to sleep.

19 August 2015

With our BLTs for dinner, we had veggie straws. Madelyn kept breathing through hers like an actual straw. After about the third time I told her to stop, I also told her that if she did it again, the veggie straws she had left were going to be taken away. Well, of course she did it again, and Tony took the two veggie straws she had left away. Tears ensued followed by intermittent sobbing. The entire time Madelyn was sobbing at the table, Alyson was sitting there very sweetly saying, "Oh, Madelyn. Oh, Madelyn." trying to comfort her sister.

18 August 2015

First

When I put Alyson's spaghetti squash and meatballs on her plate for dinner, it just happened to look like a smily face, so I added the extra sauce to exaggerate the mouth.

Tony, trying to get Alyson to say that the squash and sauce looked like a smile: What does that look like?
Alyson: Mato sauce.

Second

Before bed, Alyson and I were talking about how things will be different for her when Madelyn starts school.

Me: You'll get to be by yourself with Grandma and Grandpa all day.
Alyson: Me gonna miss Madelyn.
Me: Yeah, but you'll get to play by yourself and do what you want.
Alyson: Me like playing by myself, but I'm gonna miss Madelyn, too.

Awww....

17 August 2015

During dinner:

Alyson: Me have a napkin, please?
I handed her a napkin and she wiped her hands with it.
Alyson: Me just warming me hands up.

16 August 2015

While looking at the large window into the Blacktip Reef Exhibit at the National Aquarium today, Alyson was blowing kisses at the sharks and rays as they swam past her.

15 August 2015

When Alyson got up from her nap, I told Madelyn to come upstairs and get in her bathing suit. The girls didn't know that we were surprising them by taking them to play in the fountain in the center of Rockville. Alyson heard me downstairs and was yelling that she wanted to get in her bathing suit, too. I took her out of the the crib, and she guessed that we were taking them to a "swimming park" and started doing her "swimming park" dance of excitement. The dance was her jumping up and down while moving her arms up and down in front of her body.

Madelyn: Why is that your swimming dance?
Alyson: Because me swimming!
Madelyn: Swimming standing? No, this is swimming.

Madelyn got down on the floor on her stomach and started moving her arms and legs like she was swimming. Alyson got down next to her and copied every move.

14 August 2015

While in the car on the way to get their hair cut, I noticed Alyson was staring out the window sucking her thumb, which is not a rare occurrence.

Me: Why are you sucking your thumb?
Alyson: Me taste good.
Me: You need to stop sucking your thumb. 
Alyson: Why?
Me: It's going to hurt your teeth.
Madelyn: And your thumb!
Alyson: Okay, me stop.
Me, in disbelief: Really? You can still suck it when you go to sleep if you want.
Alyson: Okay.

Alyson, a few minutes later: Oopsie!
Me: What? Did you suck your thumb?
Alyson: Yes, but me stop!

(I will actually be surprised if she stops. She loves her thumb.)

13 August 2015

Alyson has graduated from a diaper bag to take her stuff to Mom and Dad's to a backpack. She carries her change of clothes, a wetbag, some first aid stuff, sunscreen, and her daily toys in the backpack. Today, when I was trying to get them packed up to leave Mom and Dad's, Alyson didn't want to put the little toys she brought in her backpack because "Me no want to lose me toys!"

12 August 2015

After I gave Alyson her cup of milk at dinner tonight, she grabbed it, hugged it, and yelled, "Me love you, mmm....ilk!"

11 August 2015

While fixing dinner I heard Alyson in the playroom.

Alyson, chanting: Peanut butter! Uh! Peanut butter! Uh! Peanut butter! Uh! 

She ran into the kitchen and evilly yelled at me: Peanut butter make me really hungry!
Me, trying not to laugh at Alyson just staring at me: Peanut butter makes you really hungry?
Alyson, turning to run back to the playroom: Yeah!

Toddlers really are tiny drunk adults.

10 August 2015

Alyson was playing with some toys and in the two seconds that she put the toys down to look at something else, Madelyn grabbed them. Alyson understandably got upset.

Madelyn, acting like she didn't do anything wrong: Aly, I just wanted to play with you!
Alyson, completely seriously: No, Madelyn. I don't want to play with you. Me want to play by myself.

09 August 2015

We had hamburgers and hot dogs on the grill tonight and ate dinner outside. When we do that, we usually use the grill for s'mores for dessert. Tonight was no exception.

Alyson, while eating her s'more: Dat [points to marshmallow] too hot so me just eat me animal cracker [points to graham cracker].

(Yes, she ate it all, or at least all of it that didn't end up on her face.)

08 August 2015

After Madelyn brushed her hair out of her face at dinner, Alyson had to copy. As a result, Alyson ended up with parmesan cheese and other food all over her hair.

Me: Alyson, don't do that. Your hands are messy.
Madelyn, showing her hands: My hands aren't messy. See? All clean.
Alyson, shaking her hands: Not clean!

07 August 2015

Apparently, Noodles and Co. now has kids meals on their menu. It's an entree (from a limited list), two sides, and a drink. The choices are actually pretty good and healthy. Madelyn had macaroni and cheese, broccoli, and fruit. Alyson had macaroni and cheese, carrots, and applesauce.

Me, admiring the girls' dinners: I want that!
Alyson, sighing: Oh, mommy....

06 August 2015

On the way home today, Alyson randomly told me, "You need to teach me how to go work because me no know how." Oh, sweetie, you have a long time before you have to go to work.

05 August 2015

First

Toddlers have no filter. After she farted while getting dressed this morning, Alyson announced, "I just fart! Excuse my butt!"

Second

When we got to Mom and Dad's this morning, Dad was sitting alone in the living room. Alyson ran straight to him, plopped down on him to hug him, and yelled, "Appy birfay, Bampa!"

04 August 2015

Before dinner, the girls were playing "Harry Potter" yet again. Madelyn was pretending to be Hermione and Alyson was Harry, which are their usual characters. Alyson was messing with Madelyn and refusing to what Madelyn wanted.

Madelyn: No, Aly! Not like that!
Alyson: Me not Aly now. Me 'Arry Dotter.

(For the record, Tony and I were in the kitchen and both busted out laughing.)

03 August 2015

Alyson after pushing her half-full dinner plate away from herself: Me still hungry.
Me: You have food in front of you.
Alyson: That's not food, that's dinner!

02 August 2015

When we got out of the car today, Alyson threw her "car toy" out of the car. I took it and put it in the front seat so that she couldn't have it. She noticed it in the front seat when we got back in the car and was not happy at first: "Me don't have a toy right now! Oh! Me use me fingers like a toy!"

01 August 2015

The girls had already watched all four "Baby Signing Time" DVDs in the car. Madelyn was watching another movie, but Alyson wanted to play.

Alyson: Me wanna play "Baby Signing Time."
Me: How exactly are you going to play "Baby Signing Time?"
Alyson, making the sign for "play": Me use this finger and this finger to play!

31 July 2015

First

For dinner tonight, we went to one of the local all-you-can-eat Callabash buffet restaurants. Alyson tried some of my crab legs and promptly said, "More crab please!" After I gave her more a few times, she announced, "Me gonna eat all your crab!"

Second

We went for one last walk on the beach this evening to hunt for seashells before packing up to head home (and Alyson literally tried to take the beach home as she put handfuls of sand in her bucket). Before we left the beach, the girls wanted to put their feet in the water one last time.

Me: Say "Bye, bye, beach."
Madelyn: Bye, bye, beach.
Alyson: Bye, bye, beach.
Madelyn: See you next year.
Alyson: See you next year.
Madelyn: We'll miss you.
Alyson: We'll miss you. Good night, beach.

(The whole time, a few elderly people were watching them and smiling.)

30 July 2015

Tony and I were woken up this morning my Alyson yelling and crying at Madelyn, "No! No wake Mommy and Daddy up! No, Madelyn!" Tony went out to the living room to find out that Alyson was upset that Madelyn was playing the music in her new Build-A-Bear. Ironically, Alyson was a thousand times louder than the music.

29 July 2015

After dinner, we went to the pool. While there:

Alyson, to me: Me want to go underwater!
Me: Okay. Close your mouth. I'm going to count to three, and then we'll go underwater. And you'll blow bubbles our of your nose. Ready?
Alyson: Yeah!
Me: One. Two. Three!

We went underwater and right back up.

Alyson: Me want to do it again!

This continued for at least ten minutes before Tony joined in the fun. He would go underwater at the same time and hold up a random number of fingers. Alyson would see what he did underwater and copy it when we were all back above water.

Alyson, getting more and more excited each time and practically throwing herself out of my arms into the water: Daddy do it again! Mommy do it again! Me do it again!

28 July 2015

After we passed the pool on the way to the beach for a walk after dinner:
Alyson: Me want to swim by myself!

Me: You're too little to swim by yourself.

Alyson: Me not five yet.

27 July 2015

Just a couple of the silly things Alyson said while she was overtired. We were out trying to stay to watch fireworks, but didn't make it. Still with an hour and a half to go, we gave up and came back to our condo.

While sitting on Tony's shoulders and resting her head on his:

Tony: Aly, are you a sleepy girl?
Alyson: No. Me wake! Me a wake sleepy girl!

And on the way back to the condo:

Madelyn: I want to sleep in tomorrow.
Alyson: Me want to sleep in, not out.

26 July 2016

This one is more visual. The entire time Alyson was playing in the water at the beach, whether it was with someone holding her to play in the waves or while playing with Madelyn in the tide pools, she had her mouth clamped shut and her cheeks puffed out. Girl knows that ocean water tastes yucky!